Judge weighs dismissal of Patrick Clancy’s wrongful-death suit

A Massachusetts judge is weighing whether Patrick Clancy’s wrongful-death lawsuit against his former wife’s healthcare providers can proceed, after hearing opposing claims about what Lindsay Clancy told clinicians before their three children died. Attorneys for psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Tufts, nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta and their practices asked Norfolk Superior Court Judge Michael Doolin to dismiss Patrick Clancy’s suit. They argued that mental-health professionals are protected under state law unless a patient has a history of violence or makes an explicit threat to harm someone. Doolin took the motion under advisement and did not issue a ruling. Patrick Clancy’s attorney, Howard Cooper, argued that the providers’ care was negligent and contributed to the children’s deaths. He said he believes Lindsay Clancy will testify once issues involving her Fifth Amendment rights are resolved, and that she will say she told the providers she had thoughts of harming her children and feared something awful might happen to them. Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, rejected both assertions. He said she never told healthcare providers she harbored homicidal thoughts toward...